Joshua Tree National Park

JOSHUA TREE

A few months ago I had a friend who went hiking in Joshua Tree National Park in California. He told me about how amazing it was and I had to experience it for myself. After asking around I discovered that not many people thought "hiking in the desert" sounded as awesome as I did. My luck changed when my closest friend and fellow adventurer, Jessica, came for a visit. The first thing she told me when she got off the plane was "I want to go to the desert." I knew this would be my opportunity to get to see Joshua Tree for myself. I did some research the night before by checking out their website but decided I was just going to wing it. (Isn't that what adventure is all about?) The morning of September 17th, we got up around 10 a.m., got dressed and stopped by Target to get snacks, water, and sun-screen. We then drove the 2 hour and 15 minute drive out to Joshua Tree.

 The drive itself is majestic as you see the world transform from a concrete metropolis to a barren desert. We made a quick stop at the Welcome Center where we were helped by a very friendly park ranger. We told him that we were both amateur hikers and this was both of our first times in the desert. He suggested two trails for us that were shorter and higher in elevation so that our trip would not be too hot. We payed $15 for one vehicle to enter the park and left a few bucks in the donation bin to help keep the park alive. The money was well spent because I would soon find out how beautiful Joshua Tree National Park truly is.

Upon entering the part we began an unexpectedly long drive. It took us another 30 minutes to get to the first trail head. We had to stop and ask for directions but with the kindness of strangers and Jessica's secret cartography skills we made it to our destination.

Barker Dam

Barker Dam was the first trail that we took. It is a 1 mile loop that begins with some cool rock formations and ends in open desert. If you ever get a change to go, do not miss the Native America pictographs. This trail took us a little over an hour but that is likely due to the fact that we were both so awestruck that we had to stop and take pictures ever 10 yards. The rock formations were beautiful and easy to climb for some easy self-esteem boosts. About a half mile into the trail is a grassy field that is also a lake during the rainy seasons. The ranger told us that we may see big horn sheep in this area but we did not find any. We did, however, stop and sit for a few minutes to take in the beauty. Growing up I was deathly afraid of tarantulas and would never entertain the thought of purposely going to the desert for any reason, much less for a recreational activity. But it was at this point, sitting in silence and taking it all in, that I gained a love for desert environment. This overlook was the perfect place for inspiration, evaluation, or just appreciation toward our world.  We continued up the trail for a few minutes to reach the Barker Dam. The Dam was not nearly as impressive as the field we had just seen but it was an accomplishment to have reached our first destination. The return route leaves the rock formations and goes into a valley area with lots of  Joshua Trees and open desert. We made occasional stops for pictures and water and to study the occasional lizard. towards the last quarter mile  there is a short side stop that takes you to a wall with Native America pictographs. This is a must see and it was only an extra 50 feet from the main trail. 

After our refresher on Native American literature we returned the rest of the way to the parking lot where we rested up, got more water, and got ready for our next trail.

Wall Street Mill

We decided to not go searching for another trail but to just do the trail that started right next to Barker Dam. The trail is a 1.1 mile hike up to the Mill and then you have to turn around and walk back. The trail strays away from the rock formations of the Barker Dam trail and heads into a valley. The sights of the mountains in the distance are gorgeous. The trail is full of interesting things of the past to stop and look at. There is an old wind pump, abandoned vehicles from years past, and even a grave marker. 

Further in the trail, the dirt trail turns to loose sand and walking becomes more difficult. We were starting to feel the heat and the exhaustion of the day. Once we finally arrived we stopped to read signs, drink water, take more pictures, and appreciate history. The return hike was not easy as we got lost. The trail was not clearly marked and we began taking back trails. We tried to keep our cools and head in the direction of the rock formations. We eventually saw the wind pump in the distance, marking the original trail. When we returned to the parking lot we were both very tired but had smiles on our faces. 

Spending the day in Joshua Tree National Park was nothing short of amazing. I quickly decided that it must be a stop for anyone who visits Southern California. Jessica and I joked about who would want to live in the desert but I think I can wrap my head around being attracted to the beauty of the barren land. With that said, it was nice to drive home and get some ice creme.